Egg-Collectiny in the Bashveld. 29 



country. The nest is situated in a thick bush amongst dry 

 twigs as a rule, and is composed of a few strips of bark with 

 a scanty binding of finer fibres. Eggs are Laid in November, 

 two or tlu-ee forming a clutch ; they are pale greenish in 

 colour, thickly covered with reddish speckles that I'orm a 

 cap at the thicker end, and measure about 24 x 18*3 mm. 



The duets of these birds sound something like " Come 

 here''— "Quick." 



Ch-imson - breasted Shrike {Laniarius atrococcinevs). — 



Abundant opportunities were afforded to study these 



beautiful Shrikes, so much so, that I could almost tell by 



the intonation of their call-notes whether their nests had 



eggs or young. The alarm-note is a loud metallic " Quot- 



quot," rapidly repeated, and at other times a less metallic 



note which can be heard a long way off. The nests were 



found in various .situations, usually from six to ten feet from 



the ground, in the receptacle formed by twigs growing out 



from the thicker stem of a heavily-leaved thorn-tree. In 



one case the nest was slung between the upright branches of 



an open thorn-tree, and in another was placed on the stump 



of a " Kareeboom." The nest was always loosely composed 



of stri])S of bark, and either two eggs or two young were 



found in all cases. The eggs are light greenish with clearly 



defined spots and blotches of brown and slate-blue, and 



measure, in different clutches, 23-5 X IT-l-lTS, 22-24 x 17, 



and 25x17 mm. The young assume some of the crimson 



colouring before they leave the nest and then present a 



patched appearance of crimson and dark brown. The parents 



often came down to within a few feet of me when I was at 



the nests, though normally they are amongst the shyest of 



the bushveld birds. AVhen pursued they invariably resort 



to the densest bushes or malted thorn-trees, and when driven 



thence, fly out on the opposite side, so that one has few 



opportunities of shooting them. This is perhaps fortunate, 



for their brilliant plumage must attract the attention of many 



wanton shooters. 



Puff-back Shrike (Dri/oscopiis cnhla). — Fairly [dentiful. • 



